(IDEX Online) - Yoram Dvash has been elected acting president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses following the temporary departure of Ernie Blom.
Mr Blom headed the Antwerp-based group of 30 worldwide bourses from 2012, but has stepped down citing "personal reasons".
His South Africa-based Ernest Blom Diamonds is currently involved in a legal dispute with the Dubai Diamond Exchange.
Mr Blom has said he is stepping aside temporarily for medical, family and personal reasons.
His successor, Mr Dvash, established Israel-based Dvash Diamonds in 1991 and is president of the Israel Diamond Exchange. He was elected by the executive committee of the WFDB in a Zoom meeting on Sunday.
"The diamond industry like all other industries is going through a very difficult time due to the coronavirus pandemic that has struck so much devastation in human, as well as business terms, across the world," he said in an official statement.
"In this situation it is imperative that the diamond industry across the world be united in the goal to restore it to its glory days, once the pandemic has receded and some semblance of normalcy returns to the globe."